Improvement in wheels for propelling steamships



UNITED STATES JOHN IIOBDAY AND VILLIAM I. COOKE, OF. PORTSMOTI-I,VIRGINIA'.

`PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHEELS FOR PROPELLING STEAMSHIPS, WHICH MAY BE EMPLOYEDAS WIND OR WATER WHEELS FOR MILLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2,023, dated March 29,184.1.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN HOBDAY and WILLIAM I. OOCKE. both of the townof Portsmouth, county of Norfolk, and State of Virginia, have invented anew and useful Improvement in the Construction of a lWheel forPropelling Sreamshps, Steamboats, Water- Mills, and Windmills, whichimproved wheel can be used either partly in the water, as with otherwheels, or entirely under the Water and at any depth, and eitheryvertically or horizontally; and we do hereby declare that the followingis a full and exact description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the wheel,bringing in to view at the letter A the shaft of the wheel B, thedrum-head of the wheel, the periphery of the wheel at O, the aperturesin the peripheryof the wheel at'D D D D,the paddles at their differentdistances of protrusion through the periphery of the wheel at E E E E,the heads of the screws at l l l lin the periphery of the wheel, whichconnects it with the angles on the inside, and the heads of screws at 22 2 2, which connects the parts together. Fig. 2 shows a transversesection of the wheel with one of the paddles protruded beyond theperiphery of the wheel to its greatest extent, while the other is drawninto its nearest approximation to the center of the wheel. This iigurelikewise brings into full view the crank F with its axles and shafts,one of which shafts is round and enters the shaft of the wheel at A, andthereby becomes an axle or center for the wheel to turn on, while theother end of the crank is first round and acts as an axle for thedrum-head of the wheel to turn on. It then is square and enters aInortise in a fixed plate or bed at G and gives tiredness and stabilityto the whole wheel. It also brings into view the arms of the paddles atH Il I-l H and their connection with the crank F F F. Fig. 3 brings intoView the interior of the wheel with the angular guides I I I I, whichgive direction to the paddles and lead them to the apertures in theperiphery of the wheel. These angles or guides may be made solid, orthey may be made air-tight vessels, which would much diminish the weightof the wheel and give buoyancy to the Whole struct-ure.

The nature of our inventionconsists in the combination or union ofaction of a crank and axle and shaft and drum-head together, and whileat the same time that the crank remains stationary it acts as an axlefor both the drum-heads of the wheel, and the bow of the crank gives acenter of action for the paddles and around which the paddles turn. Oneend of the shaft of the crank is tirmlyfixedl in a square socket ormortise in a fixed plate or bed, while the otherend of the shaft of thecrank is round and enters a round socket in the end of the shaft of thewheel or the center 0f the drum-head of the wheel and v`becomes an axlefor it to turn on, the shaft of the wheel being tirmly fixed in thecenter of the drum-head of the wheel, and, put in motion by a crank,wheel, or otherwise, gives motion to the periphery of the wheel, whichthus set in motion becomes the moving power of the paddles and givesthem that action that is the great desideratum sought for.

` The advantages of this new Inode o t construction of a wheel to bedriven either by steam, wind, or water, when used by individuals Will bemany and great; but when used by nations they will become incalculable,not only in its construction, which is simple, durable, and strong, butit has many advantages over the ordinary wheel, even when acting on thesurface of the water; but when we place it far below and out of the wayof danger, either from the shot of the enemy or from the frozen ocean,there in solitude and` silence it is performing its laborious task. Thusplaced it would allow the ordnance of a national ship to .be placed inits most advantageous position, and thus placed, even if the storm orthe re of the enemy should carry away the whole of the upper works of aship or boat, still this wheel, with its engine far below the surface ofthe water, would continue to perform its required duty.

Vhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The introduction of a crank into a wheel, which at the same time that itgives a new center to the paddles or arms it enables them to protrude intime of action and recede when s epee.

not Wanted for action, and at the same time impvoved wheel we havehereunto set ouv makes the periphery of the wheel bhe forcing hands this27th day of November, A, D, 1840.

power on the arms 01' paddles and enables the JOHN HOBDAY. `consti-noterto make :L wheel of the most pow- VM. I. COCKE. `erful form. Attest:

In testimony that theabove is a true and J No. HODGES, cori-eetdescription or specification of om' said I. BALLENTINE.

